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Judy Hines Brister didn't set out to blaze trails. She simply didn't believe there was anything she couldn't do. So, she did it all. She was a caring, dedicated wife for over 54 years. She was an extraordinary mother who formed deep and unique relationships with each of her daughters. She was a loyal friend and trusted mentor. And she was a fearless businesswoman and entrepreneur who overcame barriers by skillfully climbing over them, rather than knocking them down. Judy grew up in Natchitoches and began college at Northwestern, where she met her husband. Ultimately, she attended college classes at many universities - wherever her husband's work took them - earning her degree credit by credit. She taught elementary school in the 1960s, worked for state government in the 1970s, and by the 1980s had moved into private enterprise, first as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and later as the manager of offices in Alexandria, Little Rock and Baton Rouge for Crawford & Co. In the 1990s, she struck out on her own, becoming founding partner of a Baton Rouge-based vocational rehabilitation case management firm that ultimately grew to include four female partners. The company remains successful today. Judy thrived on her work, but her family came first. People in her office knew that if one of her daughters called, she was always available. Always. More than nine years ago, Judy was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. While the disease wore away her intellect, she never lost her spunk. She was strong to the end, defying death in a way that astonished even her hospice nurses. Her daughters just told them, "Mom's still in charge." Judy was 72 years old. She died in San Antonio on April 29 with family by her side. She is survived by husband Madison Brister of San Antonio; daughter Peggy Brister and son-in-law Sam Pullen of South San Francisco, Calif.; daughter Kim Brister and son-in-law John Murnane of San Antonio; and daughter Kathy Brister and son-in-law Mark Braitman of Atlanta. The family will have a private remembrance and asks that anyone wishing to pay tribute to Judy do so with a donation to the national Alzheimer's Association
, where a memorial page has been created in her honor.
Published in TheAdvocate.com from May 6 to May 7, 2015
